TY - JOUR
T1 - Room for growth
T2 - A qualitative study into the therapeutic experiences of consensually non-monogamous clients in the United Kingdom
AU - Swindlehurst, Sophia
AU - Sweet, Jessica
AU - Hoelterhoff, Mark
PY - 2023/12/21
Y1 - 2023/12/21
N2 - Introduction: Previous research shows a dearth of literature relating to the therapeutic experiences of the consensually non-monogamous (CNM) population. Research Question and Aims: We aim to understand the experiences of CNM clients in mental healthcare with a view to improving services. Method: This is an online, questionnaire-based qualitative study. Participants (n = 19) were CNM individuals who had accessed mental healthcare in the UK and disclosed being a part of CNM to their practitioner. They were recruited through social media and internet forums. Some ethical considerations included the vulnerability of this population and concerns over anonymity. Thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Findings: Three main themes were identified, these were ‘stigma’, ‘pathologisation’ and ‘barriers to openness within the therapeutic alliance’. Conclusion: It is theorized that societal mononormativity impacts both clients and practitioners within mental healthcare. For clients this compounds minority stress and results in experiences of fear of disclosure in anticipation of stigma. For practitioners, this mononormativity manifests in stigmatizing assumptions and the pathologisation of CNM in clients. Taken together, this culminates in a lack of openness and damage to the therapeutic alliance. This means care is ineffective and potentially harmful. Ways of mitigating this, including education and the development of meta skills, are explored.
AB - Introduction: Previous research shows a dearth of literature relating to the therapeutic experiences of the consensually non-monogamous (CNM) population. Research Question and Aims: We aim to understand the experiences of CNM clients in mental healthcare with a view to improving services. Method: This is an online, questionnaire-based qualitative study. Participants (n = 19) were CNM individuals who had accessed mental healthcare in the UK and disclosed being a part of CNM to their practitioner. They were recruited through social media and internet forums. Some ethical considerations included the vulnerability of this population and concerns over anonymity. Thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Findings: Three main themes were identified, these were ‘stigma’, ‘pathologisation’ and ‘barriers to openness within the therapeutic alliance’. Conclusion: It is theorized that societal mononormativity impacts both clients and practitioners within mental healthcare. For clients this compounds minority stress and results in experiences of fear of disclosure in anticipation of stigma. For practitioners, this mononormativity manifests in stigmatizing assumptions and the pathologisation of CNM in clients. Taken together, this culminates in a lack of openness and damage to the therapeutic alliance. This means care is ineffective and potentially harmful. Ways of mitigating this, including education and the development of meta skills, are explored.
KW - consensual non-monogamy
KW - mononormativity
KW - psychotherapy
KW - stigma
KW - therapeutic alliance
KW - therapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180232236&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15332691.2023.2294856
DO - 10.1080/15332691.2023.2294856
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85180232236
SN - 1533-2691
JO - Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy
JF - Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy
ER -